Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-07
"The man in the box is burglar. Be
ready for an attack"

ready for an attack"
"Oho that's the game p he said, aloud,
and instantly strobe across the room, as
Cato sprang up and barked furiously at
the box. simultaneously the top of the
box flew up, and uttering shrill whistle
the man sprang to sitting posture,
while through the wide flung door the
other two ruffians appeared with pistols
cooked. At once there begar deadly
struggle. The dog had leaped upon the
box and knocked the "dead" mans pis-
tol out of his hand, as Frank shouted,
"Tsho, Catop unwilling that the dog
should tear him to pieces, but wishing to
keep him at bay.
"Your kcysl" yelled the other men !;
'ior by heavens you'll dropl"
Instantly closing in, man to man, the
fierce struggle went on amid shouts,
curses and pistol shots.
"Call off your cursed dogw screamed
the "dead" man continually.
The encounter, which had occupied
scarcely minute, was at its deadliest,
both Frank and / endeavoring to disarm
rather than kill, when the whistle of the
train sounded. and in another moment
the conductor and his men were among
us.
"Seizc that scoundrel u shouted Frank,
breathlessly, indicating the man in the
box. "Here, Cator' and the obedient
animal unwillingly retired, but continued
his savage growls.
At this juncture my man fell heavily to
the floor, wounded in the leg, and utter
ing groans and imprecations. It was
quick work to secure the men, and Jake,
who opportunely reappeared, was sent to
summon the village police. Some of the
passengers, impatient at the delay, had
got wind of the adventure, and now
crowded into the station in no little ex-
citement. The box was found to have a
false side piece, next the wall, which was
easily pushed down by the man inside,
for greater comfort in his cramped posi-
ton; and there were beside number of
air-holes. 1t was the moving of this
side-panel that caused the muffied noise
had heard.
was questioned in all possible ways.
and the curiosity of the passengers was
fully gratifed amid the clamor of the
prisoners who continually swore at each
other.
"What did you wait so long for?" said
one of them glaring at the dead" man.
"What was your hurry" retorted the
other, sarcastically.
1t was plain from the quarrel which
ensued that the sight of my pistols, and
my evident uneasiness, together with the
effect of the fearful storm, had unsettled
The fellows plan and robbed him of his
presence of mind. While puzzling as to
the safest course, the sudden entrance of
Frank and the dog had precipitated the
catastrophe.
The men were conducted to the
County Jail, and l was the hero of the
hour, although l could not claim much
credit for personal valor in the matter.
Was it fate or Providence that befriend-
ed me2 But for my presentiment, or
whatever it was, l should have urged
Franks immediate return to my anxious
betrothed. But for her loving anxiety
he never would have come down on such
a night. But for the dog one of us must
have been killed And first of all, but
for the instructive sense of danger the
telegraph wires would never have spoken
a warning to my excited fancy; and this
manifest feeling of apprehension, though
! strove hard to conceal it, held the man
in the box at bay.
The practical result of the episode was
a more commodious station-house, and
more men on duty. My salary was
raised; but eventually l gave up the sit
uation because my wife could never feel
satisfied to have me perform night work
after the fearful experience l have
related
As to Frank, he is not backward with
explosive English whenever the subject
is mentioned, and no amount of persua-
sion could ever reconcile Cato to the old
station-house. .-FT0nk Leslie's.